Cool under pressure, Alex Johnston's led York to its best season in years

Marty O'Brien, mobrien@dailypress.com | 757-247-4963

There's a laid-back cool about York High quarterback Alex Johnston that starts with the facial hair and long curly brown locks. They complement the no-worries demeanor.

If those traits don't remind you of 1970s quarterbacking icon Ken Stabler of the Oakland Raiders, the left arm he picks secondaries apart with or his running ability will. Just don't mistake his cool for a lack of passion or confidence.

"You see him walk in the room and he's the skinny guy with the curly hair," York coach Doug Pereira said of Johnston, a 6-foot, 160-pound senior. "You wouldn't know he's the quarterback.

"He's deceptively talented and very competitive. He's out to kick your tail every time."

Said York quarterback coach Scott James, "It's a different kind of cockiness. It's not, 'I'm better than you.' It's just that he knows what he can do and plays within himself.

"He did some special things and had a tremendously special season."

Which is why Johnston became the first York football player named the Daily Press All-Stars Offensive Player of the Year. Johnston guided the Falcons to victories in their first 11 games — something that hadn't happened since the 1980s — before they fell hard to James Monroe in the Region I Division 3 final.

During the 11-game win streak he completed 117-of-211 passes for 21 touchdowns, with only five interceptions. Sneaky fast with the ability to cut quickly, Johnston ran for 530 yards and 14 TDs.

His 3,962 passing yards broke the previous York career record of 3,389 set in the mid-1990s by current University of Delaware assistant coach Brian Ginn. Those numbers seem to mean more to guys like York center John Riggins and all-region tackle Hayden Crockett than they do to Johnston.

"I'd have to say that's a big highlight for me," Riggins said.

Said Crockett, "It felt good to help him get the record. He wasn't cocky, but he was confident in using the weapons he had at his disposal and the time he needed to make a big play."

Johnston's mixture of confidence and composure blended perfectly against Lafayette in a highly anticipated battle of 8-0 teams. Lafayette led 35-14 midway through the fourth quarter, but Johnston never blinked.

"We never thought it was as insurmountable a lead as some people in the stands thought it was," Johnston said.

He let his teammates know it, too.

"He kept his composure on the sideline and didn't get rattled or anything," York tight end Brad Myers said. "Alex said, 'Stay focused. We've still got this game.'

"I could tell he meant it."

Johnston had a 23-yard run and went 5-of-5 passing for 37 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown pass, on a drive that pulled the Falcons to within 35-21 with 6:10 to play. One play after York recovered an onside kick, Johnston scrambled left and connected with Logan Bauder on a 51-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-28.

"We do a lot of 7-on-7 (passing tournaments) and that's basically what the game turned into at that point," Johnston said. "That touchdown gave the defense energy and the offense confidence."

He began the game-winning 67-yard touchdown drive with runs of 14 and 6 yards, later scrambling away from pressure on fourth-and-6 to complete an 18-yard pass. Johnston's 10-yard pass to Bauder on third-and-10 set up his 7-yard TD run on a quarterback keeper to pull the Falcons to within 35-34 with 24 seconds remaining.

He capped the comeback by passing to Lamont Silva for a two-point conversion that gave the Falcons one of the most memorable wins in Bay Rivers District history.

"Going undefeated in the regular season was a big deal," Johnston said. "And putting a playoff win in the books by getting a second win over (defending state champion) Poquoson was definitely good, too."

The rally against Lafayette was a mirror of Johnston's season. He could throw long, throw short, run and run the spread option offense to near perfection for a York team that averaged better than 40 points and 400 yards much of the season.

He did all that calling his own plays, because Pereira respected his intelligence so much he sent him to the line of scrimmages with two play choices. And he did it with cool.

"I like to compare him to a Tom Brady type guy because he beats you with his brains," Pereira said. "If he goes to a Division II or III he'll fight for an immediate starting position immediately.

"Whoever is there will have to stay on his toes. I don't think we're far-fetched in thinking he could start immediately."